Is Elon Musk's Twitter harming global political free speech?
May 16, 2023
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Founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, believes Elon Musk's Twitter is harming global political free speech. New CEO of Elon Musk's platform, Linda Yacarino, is discussed with insight from Claire Atkinson. BBC Monitoring explains why TikTok is in trouble in Senegal. Concerns are raised about the threat to voice actors' profession from AI.
Elon Musk's Twitter influence on social media platforms raises concerns about freedom of expression and internet censorship.
The appointment of Linda Yaccarino as Twitter's new CEO brings new potential for partnerships, revenue growth, and diversification.
Deep dives
Twitter's Compliance with Government Demands in Turkey
On the eve of a closely contested election in Turkey, Twitter complied with the government's demand to geo-block politically sensitive material from the platform. This move has raised concerns among advocates of free speech, especially considering Elon Musk's public support for freedom of expression. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales criticized Musk's decision and emphasized the importance of internet websites taking a principled approach to human rights issues and not simply caving in to government demands. The incident highlights the potential implications of social media platforms yielding to censorship demands.
The Importance of Defending Freedom of Expression Online
The compliance of Twitter with government demands in Turkey has sparked a larger discussion about the role of social media platforms in protecting freedom of expression. Jimmy Wales stressed the significance of having an open internet that facilitates the free sharing of ideas and knowledge. He contrasted Twitter's decision with the principled stance that Wikipedia took when it was banned in Turkey, opting to go to court and eventually winning a landmark decision that encouraged other websites to resist censorship. The incident raises questions about the responsibility of internet platforms in upholding fundamental human rights.
The Appointment of Linda Yaccarino as Twitter's New CEO
Twitter's recent appointment of Linda Yaccarino as its new CEO has generated interest and positive reception. Linda Yaccarino, a former advertising executive at NBC Universal, is credited with making transformative decisions in the industry and forging partnerships with big tech companies. Her appointment is seen as a potential opportunity for Twitter to regain advertising revenue and diversify its platform. While concerns about working with Elon Musk have been raised in the past, Yaccarino's reputation as a strong leader and her focus on partnerships suggest that she may bring a fresh perspective and contribute to Twitter's success.
The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, tells us Elon Musk’s Twitter is making it harder for the internet to be open and free. Plus Shiona McCallum profiles Linda Yaccarino, the platform’s new CEO, with insight from Claire Atkinson, of Insider, whose known her for 20 years. Also: Sam Murunga, from BBC Monitoring, in Nairobi, on why TikTok is in trouble in Senegal. And Ben Derico reports on why voice actors are worried about the threat to their profession from AI.
(Photo: Supporters of Turkish President check their phone to look at early presidential election results in front of the Justice and development Party (AKP's) headquarters, 14 May, 2023. Credit: Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)
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